Saatchi derides 'austere' galleries

Art collector Charles Saatchi has turned on contemporary galleries, calling them "cliched".

Saatchi recently opened a gallery in London's former County Hall, moving away from his trademark "white space".

"After years of showing art floating in a pristine artic isolation, it's a revelation to break out of the white-cube timewarp," he said.

Writing in Time Out, he also said that roped off artworks "destroy" visitors' ability to appreciate it.

Saatchi was considered among the first to use white space to exhibit his vast collection of contemporary art, including Tracy Emin and Damien Hirst, at his original north London gallery.

But by moving into County Hall, he has changed the perception of art galleries and how contemporary art can be displayed.

The gallery on London's South Bank has wood-panelled walls, giving a glimpse into its past functional use as the offices of the Greater London Council.

Saatchi, writing in a supplement advertising the forthcoming exhibition of Jake and Dinos Chapman, was scathing of contemporary art galleries.

"Many in the art world, artists included, feel contemporary art can only be seen properly in a perfect white space," wrote Saatchi.

"If art can't look good outside the antiseptic gallery spaces dictated by museum fashion of the last 25 years, then it condemns itself to a worryingly limited lifespan."

'Modernist palaces'

He added: "What's more, that once cutting-edge gallery style is beginning to look like a cliche trendy bar or loft conversion. It's time for a rethink."

Saatchi also criticised galleries for creating "identical, austere, modernist palaces in every world city".

Saatchi's biggest rival is the nearby Tate Modern gallery as they attract similar audiences.

Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota, told the Sunday Telegraph: "Anything Charles says is interesting and it is true that art can be shown in a number of ways.

"As far as the ropes are concerned, its is a dilemma for all museums to strike a balance between showing the work of art and ensuring that it cannot be endangered. This is particularly true for frequently exhibited museums."